Often, it is the classroom teacher that is the first to observe that a child may be having vision difficulties. Any kind of vision impairment can impact a student's ability to participate fully in classroom activities, for example, seeing the board clearly or interacting with peers in group activities, especially those involving reading and writing. Children with vision difficulties struggle to keep up with the demands of their curriculum.
A visual impairment results from
Having an eye disorder which causes a loss of functional vision,
Can vary from mild to severe, and
Can be congenital or happen by chance.
The degree of loss may be described as low vision, legally blind, and totally blind. The continuum of services a student may receive is based on individual needs and range from least restrictive (public school with itinerant services), public school with resource room access, separate class, or to a more restrictive setting, such as a residential school for blind students. By law, assistive technology must be considered for all students with an IEP.
~ Visual impairment or low vision is a severe reduction in vision that cannot be corrected with standard glasses or contact lenses and reduces a person's ability to function at certain or all tasks.
~ Legal blindness (which is actually a severe visual impairment) refers to a best-corrected central vision of 20/200 or worse in the better eye or a visual acuity of better than 20/200 but with a visual field, no greater than 20° (e.g., side vision that is so reduced that it appears as if the person is looking through a tunnel).
We are a "print rich" society, with visual representation used to support the learning process. Therefore the type and severity of a student's impairment may have an impact on the ability to access materials in the classroom and participate in curricular activities. The impacts of a visual impairment can be mild, in which only an accommodation may be needed, such as preferential seating. But a student with a moderate or severe impairment may need the provision of accommodations and assistive technology to be successful. Some students may need to use a different mode of learning, including tactual and/or auditory. Teaching students with Visual Impairments
Devices to assist Students with Visual Impairments
Non-optical devices
Optical devices
"Low-tech" Assistive Technology
"High-tech" Assistive Technology
Examples of Software
Examples of Assistive Technology Materials
(low cost tools, intended to improve residual vision and /or compensate for loss of vision.)
(increase or decrease the size of the material the student is accessing)
(including software and electronic materials)
Reading stand
Bold line or raised line paper
Hat or sunglasses to decrease glare or sensitivity to light
Bold pens/markers
Large print
Desk lamp
Items used to create tactile graphics or raised line drawings
(Wikki Stix, foam shapes, sandpaper, etc.)
White cane
Glasses
Contacts
Transition lenses
Telescopes
Magnifiers
Braille writer
Talking or large-print display calculator
Talking liquid-level indicator
Beeper ball
Braille or large print ruler, protractor, number line
Slate and stylus
Signature guide
Abacus
Braille
Tactile graphics
Tactile or large print games
Closed circuit television
Video magnification device
Braille embosser
Refreshable Braille display
Electronic Braille writer
E-book readers
Digital talking book player
Scanner
Laptop or desktop computer
Accessible touch tablet
Electronic whiteboard
Talking global positioning systems
Electronic travel aids (laser cane, talking compass, etc.)
Screen reading software
Screen enlargement/magnification software
Optical Character Recognition
Braille translation program
Audio-described videos
Digital books on CD or in other accessible formats such as MP3 or DAISY
Some suggestions to assist a student with visual impairment in the classroom
Read the IEP for all pertinent information.
Verbalize everything. When writing information on a white board, presenting a powerpoint, or providing a demonstration, all students will benefit from hearing it and seeing it. For the student with a vision impairment, it doesn't hurt to "over-verbalize."
Don't ask a student with a vision impairment, "What do you see" or "Can you see..." but observe the behavior. A student with low vision may be able to navigate the school campus and recognize friends in face-to-face situations, but may be unable to do so while looking at them through car or bus windows.
Allow flexibility so the student with a visual impairment can determine what works best for him or her. For instance, allow a friend to quietly verbalize any action that isn't verbalized in a video.
Allow the student to use "touch" as a teaching tool. Tactile techniques benefit many individuals, but tactile clues help the student learn about the environment to a greater extent.
Have readily available the tools that are identified for the student in the student's IEP, to eliminate any unnecessary down time.
Keep it low key. Don't make a big deal about the student or the techniques or equipment that may be different. Be up front and keep a productive attitude that encourages others to be supportive.
Expect the student to be independent. While it may take a little time to become accustom to any special tools the student may use, it is important that independence is achieved through personal note taking rather than the help of a scribe. This will be an important lesson for the student to have outside the classroom, when a scribe isn't readily available.
Expect the student to do the work - don't excuse him/her from assignments. Work with others to determine the tools the student may need to accomplish the goals outlined in your class. Keep your expectations high.
Keep a positive attitude. Some things will be easier to accomplish than others. For many student with visual impairments, their vision may not get any better, so, for the student's sake, it is best to be positive about the student's current accomplishments to foster his/her desire to continue on a forward path.
Access the link below to learn about Florida’s resource center for obtaining specialized materials (Braille, digital, large print textbooks) for students with visual impairments. Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC-VI) http://www.fimcvi.org/
Access the link below to learn about the largest nonprofit organization that produces books in accessible formats for persons who are visually impaired. American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. www.aph.org
Access the link below to learn about a free online searchable library to obtain accessible books and periodicals for readers with print disabilities. Bookshare http://www.bookshare.org/
Access the link below to learn about a resource which holds more than 70,000 accessible and downloadable textbooks and literature titles. Learning Ally http://www.learningally.org
Access the link below to learn about a free library program which gives access to Braille and audio materials. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped http://www.loc.gov/nls/
Braille/Print Literacy Issues and the Learning Media Assessment Eva Lavigne and Ann Adkins Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Outreach http://tsbvi.edu/seehear/spring03/literacy.htm
KNFB Reader Developed through a collaborative partnership, this iPhone, iPad, Android app is considered faster and, at $99.99, less expensive than most other portable readers. http://www.knfbreader.com/
Often, it is the classroom teacher that is the first to observe that a child may be having vision difficulties. Any kind of vision impairment can impact a student's ability to participate fully in classroom activities, for example, seeing the board clearly or interacting with peers in group activities, especially those involving reading and writing. Children with vision difficulties struggle to keep up with the demands of their curriculum.
A visual impairment results from
- Having an eye disorder which causes a loss of functional vision,
- Can vary from mild to severe, and
- Can be congenital or happen by chance.
The degree of loss may be described as low vision, legally blind, and totally blind. The continuum of services a student may receive is based on individual needs and range from least restrictive (public school with itinerant services), public school with resource room access, separate class, or to a more restrictive setting, such as a residential school for blind students. By law, assistive technology must be considered for all students with an IEP.~ Visual impairment or low vision is a severe reduction in vision that cannot be corrected with standard glasses or contact lenses and reduces a person's ability to function at certain or all tasks.
~ Legal blindness (which is actually a severe visual impairment) refers to a best-corrected central vision of 20/200 or worse in the better eye or a visual acuity of better than 20/200 but with a visual field, no greater than 20° (e.g., side vision that is so reduced that it appears as if the person is looking through a tunnel).
We are a "print rich" society, with visual representation used to support the learning process. Therefore the type and severity of a student's impairment may have an impact on the ability to access materials in the classroom and participate in curricular activities. The impacts of a visual impairment can be mild, in which only an accommodation may be needed, such as preferential seating. But a student with a moderate or severe impairment may need the provision of accommodations and assistive technology to be successful. Some students may need to use a different mode of learning, including tactual and/or auditory.
Teaching students with Visual Impairments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPC_--R-Ma0
Devices to assist Students with Visual Impairments
- Reading stand
- Bold line or raised line paper
- Hat or sunglasses to decrease glare or sensitivity to light
- Bold pens/markers
- Large print
- Desk lamp
- Items used to create tactile graphics or raised line drawings
(Wikki Stix, foam shapes, sandpaper, etc.)Some suggestions to assist a student with visual impairment in the classroom
Information and Resources ---
Production of accessible instructional materials for students who are blind or who have other print disabilities
National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS)
http://aem.cast.org/creating/national-instructional-materials-accessibility-standard-nimas.html#.WK4CUpOQkV0
Access the link below to learn about Florida’s resource center for obtaining specialized materials (Braille, digital, large print textbooks) for students with visual impairments.
Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC-VI)
http://www.fimcvi.org/
Access the link below to learn about the largest nonprofit organization that produces books in accessible formats for persons who are visually impaired.
American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
www.aph.org
Access the link below to learn about a free online searchable library to obtain accessible books and periodicals for readers with print disabilities.
Bookshare
http://www.bookshare.org/
Vision disability resource guide
Humanware
http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/home
Access the link below to learn about a resource which holds more than 70,000 accessible and downloadable textbooks and literature titles.
Learning Ally
http://www.learningally.org
Access the link below to learn about a free library program which gives access to Braille and audio materials.
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
http://www.loc.gov/nls/
Considerations for Low Vision Students in a Classroom
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.tsbvi.edu/program-and-administrative-resources/3277-considerations-for-low-vision-students-in-a-classroom
Possible Accommodations for the Student With a Visual Impairment
The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH)
http://www.albinism.org/atf/cf/%7BF9C8AAE8-DE7A-4923-BC56-52ABED8FD74D%7D/SchoolKit%20Section%20III%20Possible%20Accommodations%20for%20the%20Student.pdf
A national program that can help those with significant combined vision and hearing loss.
iCanConnect
http://www.icanconnect.org/#
Optical Character Recognition Systems
American Foundation for the Blind
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=4&TopicID=31&DocumentID=1283
Vision Loss Simulation
http://www.acbvi.org/Vision/index.html
Impact of Visual Impairment on Development
Chris Strickling
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.tsbvi.edu/infants/3293-the-impact-of-visual-impairment-on-develop
Perkins Scout
Literacy for Students with Low Vision
An Information Clearinghouse on Blindness and Visual Impairment
http://www.perkins.org/resources/scout/literacy-and-braille/literacy-for-low-vision.html
Braille/Print Literacy Issues and the Learning Media Assessment
Eva Lavigne and Ann Adkins
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Outreach
http://tsbvi.edu/seehear/spring03/literacy.htm
Visual Impairments
Project Ideal
Texas Council for Developmental Disabilites
http://www.projectidealonline.org/v/visual-impairments/
Glossary of Eye Conditions
American Foundation for the Blind
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=93
Exceptional Student Education Eligibility for Students Who Are Visually Impaired
Florida Department of Education
https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=6A-6.03014
Florida School for the Deaf and Blind
http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/
The Role and Function of the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
Susan Jay Spungin and Kay Alicyn Ferrell
http://www.afb.org/foe/book.asp?ch=v2appC
SmartView Versa - The Versatile Handheld Video Magnifier for low vision (Video Enlargement Device)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f9qic6AmRk
KNFB Reader
Developed through a collaborative partnership, this iPhone, iPad, Android app is considered faster and, at $99.99, less expensive than most other portable readers.
http://www.knfbreader.com/
Downloadable Fonts
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Download Braille and ASL specialty fonts. Many other resources, including at cost and free publications, are found on this site.
http://www.tsbvi.edu/braille-resources/1087-download-braille-and-asl-specialty-fonts
iPad, Android, and other resources for the visually impaired
http://appadvice.com/applist_ipad_client_view/apps-for-the-visually-impairedhttp://www.applevis.com/apps/ios-apps-for-blind-and-vision-impaired
http://www.pinterest.com/wonderbabyorg/best-ipad-apps-for-blind-kids/
https://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170208
Vision Sense Polaris (HIMS) https://youtu.be/UdYjgQpi464
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